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>> Sunday, October 17, 2010

I don't mean to bore you with anothersteamed cupcake recipe, but I enjoyed this cupcake so much that I do want to document it for future reference :)

When I think back on the past few years, certain things have been tough. In fact, very tough.

There were days when I felt completely defeated. You know, those days where you just can't see the light at the end of the tunnel? But usually sometime during the day, I'd get a text message saying,

'Meet you at the gym at 6:45pm?' from my friend Miss P.

Despite my exhaustion, I did look forward to those gym sessions...because, truth be told, those weren't really gym sessions. I did jog (ok, I mainly strolled) on a treadmill with my fancy and shiny sneakers, but for the next half hour or so, I would pour out all my days frustrations and minute details to this dear friend (poor girl!) and she'd walk alongside with me and listen.

And eventually I'd feel calmer and inevitably, I'd start talking about food...

...and when I'm talking about food - I am laughing and I am rejuvenated and relaxed. The treadmill would then read 30 minutes and it's time to call it the end of a tough workout session.

So one thing I am missing now that I have moved away is an exercise buddy. Actually it's more than that. I'm missing a good friend who sometimes has to sample some of my baked goods gone wrong and who, like me, believes that ice-cream should be part of your everyday diet ;) I cannot recall how many times we've visited Coles just to stroll through their ice-cream section!

So obviously this post is dedicated to this dear friend. Not only is she truly a genuine and beautiful friend, she's the type of person who really prays for you and is always conscious of the things going on in your life.

Having friends like these are such blessings huh?

Thank you for the friendship and the encouragements. Gym sessions will never be the same again without you!

Miss P treated me to delicious meals and gave me a most thoughtful present just before I left..so I baked (no, I steamed!) those incredible cupcakes for her just to say, thanks! They're super soft, moist and rather healthy! I used whole adzuki beans (as opposed to red bean paste) to add texture to the cupcakes. Red beans on it own are rather flavourless. But when mixed with chocolate, you can just smell the faint aroma of the beans but they hardly overpower or clash with the rich chocolate in anyway.

If you're a fan of red beans like me, give this a go - I think you'll like it!

Steamed chocolate and adzuki cupcakesMakes 6 cupcakes

Ingredients (updates in RED)

2 large eggs

30g sugar (I used brown - you may want to up on this to say 50g as I tend to prefer my food not too sweet)

1/4 cup of milk (or yoghurt)

1 tablespoon grapeseed oil (can use other oil like canola or olive)

40g all purpose flour

20g cocoa powder (I used dutch processed)

~50g cooked adzuki beans (whole)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1. In a bowl, beat the eggs lightly then add the sugar and mix well.

2. Then add the milk (or yoghurt) into the mixture as well as the grapeseed oil. Beat well.

3. Sieve the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder and incorporate into the egg mixture and mix until the batter does not have white parts from the flour.

4. Finally incorporate the adzuki beans into batter and mix gently.

5. Ladle the batter into 6 separate cupcake/panna cotta containers which are lined with cupcake liners/muffin cups. I used jelly moulds! Please refer to my previous

6. In a large pot (I used cast iron casseroles), fill it with enough boiling hot water such that when you put the cupcakes in, the water comes about half way on the mould. Refer to the photo in my previous post.

7. Steam for around 13-15 minutes with the lid on on low-medium heat. I prefer to wrap a cloth/towel on the lid to prevent water droplets dropping onto the cupcakes. Don't steam over-time as the cake will become 'soggy'.

When I first moved to Boston for college I had such a hard time adapting because of all the good friends I had left behind. I felt like I would never make new ones. But I did and so will you! especially if you offer/bribe people with cupcakes as delicious as these! I love red bean paste and so I WILL be making these!

Anonymous: Sorry I didn't mention it in my recipe! I will update it soon!! But yes I steamed on the stove on Low-Medium for ~14 mins as I used a cast iron pot which means I do not need to turn up the heat too much. You can refer to my previous post (goji&longan cupcakes) and see the photos which might help a little bit?

Joanne: Thanks for the encouragaing comments girl :) I def hope I'll be making more friends here soon. Yes bribing always does the trick aye ;)

sugarpuffi: Hehe and you keep it up with your wacky writing too...I love reading your posts!

Holy smokes, Vivienne, you have me on your Blog List! I am SO flattered! Thank you. Your cupcakes look so moist and wonderful. I have steamed bread, but never anything sweet. This is a great idea, I'll have to try it.